genera on the basis of insignificant characters. Amblyocentor is therefore considered as a subgenus of Dermacentor. A few male specimens have the anterior spots of the scutum partially or completely fused, thus resembling the female scutum. Neumann (1907,1910B) described the subspecies permaculatus on the basis of these differences. Subsequent investigators with the exception of Tonelli Rondelli (1930A), have disregarded this name and considered these characters to be no more than individual variation (Bequaert 1930B). A ""provisional name", D. rhinocerotis arangis, was applied by Lewis (1934, p. 39) to specimens of variable color but after com parison with other specimens this name was withdrawn (footnote of same page). Females have two large patches of reddish brown hairs and scattered lighter hairs near the posterior margin of the body dorsally. These, and the cuticle of this species, have been studied by Schulze (1944A) and Jakob (1924). Schulze (1941) noted features of the tarsus and haller's organ, and (1950A) of the dentition of this tick. IDENTIFICATION Key characters readily separate and identify the two Dermacen tor species discussed in this report. HAEMAPHYSALIS INTRODUCTION Haemaphysalids are so small and inconspicuous, except when the females become greatly engorged, that they are seldom ade quately represented in collections. Collectors frequently overlook them when larger and more colorful ticks are present. Many species show a marked predilection for seldom examined hosts such as hyraxes, birds, and hedgehogs. Some haemaphysalids appear to be actually quite rare in nature. In tropical and southern Africa, the genus Haemaphysalis is represented by the ubiquitous H. leachii subspp., chiefly a car. nivore parasite, and by approximately fifteen less common species. In the nearby Madagascan archipelago, among whose ten known endem ic tick species are nine haemaphysalids, most are distinctly related to the Oriental fauna. Asia has some fifty or more haemaphysalid species, which, in proportion to the total tick fauna, are to that continent what rhipicephalids are to Africa. A dozen forms are listed in the Russian fauna (Pomerantzev 1950). Of a total of eighteen ixodid species in the Philippines (Kohls 1950), not including the cosmopolitan kennel tick, one third are haema physalids. The Americas and Europe claim only about five species each. Since Nuttall and Warburton's (1915) revision of this genus, the African haemaphysalid fauna has received but little attention from biologists, systematists, or collectors. Many records in cluded here represent considerable extensions of known range. Obviously, some few African species remain to be discovered and described. Differentiation of most African haemaphysalids is relatively easy, either by certain combinations of characters or by unique characters for individual species. Morphological characters and facies of most species are comparatively quite constant. An important exception is H. leachii subspp., among the African forms of which there is very considerable variation. Haemaphysalids are usually three-host parasites, although exceptions do occur. The life cycles of H. 1. leachii and of H. aciculifer have been fairly well studied In the laboratory, but few reliable biological data are available for African species. Factors governing morphological and biological variations of H. leachii subspp. pose an especially intriguing problem. Medically, the only African haemaphysalid of known importance is H. 1. leachii, a vector of boutonneuse fever (tick typhus) of man and of malignant jaundice of dogs. The same species may also be a reservoir of Q fever. The high potential of H. bequaerti as a medically important species has been recently suggested and others probably eventually will be incriminated in disease trans mission of academic or practical interest. 5. Coxae without overlapping, pointed spurs and with few hairs all shorter Coxae with a short, pointed spur on at least two pairs. Palpal outline laterally straight or very slightly concave (deeply concave only in exceptional, small specimens), and usually with large pointed basal angle or spur dorsally and ventrally; segment 3 ventrally with narrow, pointed, fairly long retrograde spur. (Commonly on carnivores, rare on other animals). 6. Scutum narrowly elongate (approximately ...H. BEQUAERTI Figures 132 and 133 ....6 .H. LEACHII LEACHII Figures 144, 145, and 148 |